Who Was Colluding with Demons?

Zhao Changshan lay on the ground, laughing loudly. "Brother Cui, what did you think of the ninth form of my Eight Desolations Slash?"

Cui Lang gave him a thumbs-up. "That move of yours was incredible, Brother Zhao."

Whether he had stumbled into it or not, any move that could seriously wound the Toad Demon was a good move.

He walked over to the Toad Demon's corpse and slowly pulled out his blade. Sure enough, the little pot in his mind began devouring the Toad Demon's demonic blood again.

Zhao Changshan struggled to get to his feet. Catch a toad and squeeze out its piss; now that they had caught the Toad Demon, shouldn't they wring every last tael of silver out of it?

But his expression suddenly changed drastically. "Brother Cui, hurry and save me! I've been poisoned—I can't move!"

Seeing that the demonic blood had finished being devoured, Cui Lang immediately ran over to Zhao Changshan. "Brother Zhao, how about I carry you back? Getting poisoned while slaying a demon should mean even greater merit, right?"

Zhao Changshan had taught him that the more miserable one looked, the greater the credit one received. Cui Lang remembered it perfectly.

Zhao Changshan panicked. "Greater merit, my ass! I'll be dead from the poison before we ever make it back to the city!"

"I have the Herbal Restoration Pill Magistrate Zheng gave me on me. Hurry and help me take it out."

He had not spent all his silver yet, and he had not sampled Red Sleeve Pavilion's top courtesan. He did not want to die.

Cui Lang reached into Zhao Changshan's robes and pulled out a small bottle. He helped Zhao Changshan sit up and poured the Herbal Restoration Pill into his mouth.

Zhao Changshan quickly circulated the Blazing Sun Technique, refining the pill and expelling the demonic poison from his body.

Cui Lang walked over to Sun Yuanwai's corpse and began feeling around inside his clothes.

As expected of a Yuanwai—his purse was actually stuffed full of silver. Cui Lang weighed it in his hand; there had to be at least twenty or thirty taels.

The wealth of such an unrighteous man surely had not come by honest means. It was confiscated!

The Toad Demon seemed to have occupied the Cloudwater River for at least a year, and the title of River God had existed for at least several months. Had the county truly not received even the slightest rumor over all that time?

Sun Yuanwai alone could not possibly have concealed something this big. Someone in the county was likely colluding with the Toad Demon; otherwise, how would it dare have people build it a temple and demand offerings of boys and girls?

Who could it be?

The Toad Demon's lair was in the Cloudwater River. Unfortunately, the river was too long and too wide, and he did not know its exact location. Otherwise, he truly wanted to go down and take a look.

After Zhao Changshan finished purging the poison and opened his eyes, he saw Cui Lang standing guard beside him while practicing his blade forms. He was deeply moved at once.

"Cui Lang, you really are a good brother. Thank you for today."

"How are you? You weren't poisoned, were you?"

Cui Lang sheathed his blade. "I'm fine."

This Herbal Restoration Pill was quite effective. In such a short while, Zhao Changshan was already lively and kicking again.

Zhao Changshan asked curiously, "Cui Lang, had you learned the Eight Desolations Slash before?"

Cui Lang rolled his eyes. "If I had learned it before, would I have spent silver to learn from you?"

Zhao Changshan nodded. "Then you truly are a blade technique genius. You learned it so well so quickly. If you keep practicing for another year, you might not be weaker than Constable Li."

That was true. If Cui Lang really knew the Eight Desolations Slash, he could not possibly have wasted five taels of silver for nothing.

The moment he thought of silver, he immediately ran toward Sun Yuanwai's corpse. After searching it for a long time, he wore a disappointed expression. "Damn it, how could a rich old man go out without bringing silver?"

Cui Lang took out the purse. "Brother Zhao, were you looking for this?"

Zhao Changshan's eyes lit up. "So you already searched him. You saved my life this time, so all the silver is yours."

"Hurry and put it away. Don't tell me how much there is either—I'm afraid I'll regret it."

They had slain the demon together, but he had ultimately been poisoned by demonic venom. If Cui Lang had not fed him the Herbal Restoration Pill, he would already have died from the poison.

Cui Lang was somewhat surprised. "Brother Zhao, then I'll treat you to drinks in a couple of days."

Zhao Changshan blurted out, "At Red Sleeve Pavilion?"

Cui Lang said, "...Sure."

He had heard Zhao Changshan go on and on about how wonderful Red Sleeve Pavilion was until his ears had practically grown calluses. It would be a good chance to appreciate the local arts.

Zhao Changshan immediately beamed. "Wait here for a while. I'll go borrow a handcart from a nearby village and haul the Toad Demon's corpse back to the city to claim credit."

He had just refined the Herbal Restoration Pill, and his blood and vitality were surging through his body. Besides, Cui Lang was treating him to drinks at Red Sleeve Pavilion, making him even more full of energy.

They had slain another demon and earned merit this time. He wondered what reward Magistrate Zheng would give them.

At the city gate.

Zheng Fengyun looked solemnly at the Toad Demon's corpse on the handcart, then at Cui Lang and Zhao Changshan.

Only two days had passed since these two had slain their last demon. How had they gone out in the middle of the night and slain another one already?

"Zhao Changshan, Cui Lang, the two of you have truly given this official a tremendous surprise."

"Two demons slain in three days. This official truly ought to thank you properly on behalf of the people of Cloud Mountain County."

"This demon was slain by the Cloudwater River. This official seems to have heard people mention a River God in the Cloudwater River. Could it have been this creature?"

A mild smile rested on Zheng Fengyun's face, but his eyes remained fixed firmly on Cui Lang's.

"Magistrate Zheng, we only slew a demon wearing a red robe. We've never heard of any River God in the Cloudwater River." Cui Lang's eyes were filled with sincerity. "With Magistrate Zheng in Cloud Mountain County, how could any demon dare impersonate a River God?"

Zhao Changshan immediately added, "It must have been Sun Yuanwai spreading rumors. Unfortunately, he was killed by the demon. Otherwise, we should have properly punished him for his crimes."

Zheng Fengyun laughed heartily. "The two of you did well. This official is greatly pleased."

"However, this official is quite curious. Why did you two leave the city at night? Had you discovered something beforehand?"

Zhao Changshan lowered his head. "Please forgive me, Magistrate Zheng. During the day, I heard there was excitement by the Cloudwater River. I thought there might be many young ladies, so I dragged Cui Lang along to take a look."

"As you know, sir, I'm nearly thirty and still haven't married."

"Afterward, we discovered they were preparing to offer boys and girls as sacrifices to the River God. Naturally, I stepped forward to stop them. Fearing they might secretly carry out the sacrifice at night, I called Brother Cui Lang along to catch them in the act."

"This subordinate was greedy for merit. Please punish me, Magistrate Zheng."

Zheng Fengyun lightly waved a hand. "It is understandable that you are eager to earn merit, but if you encounter something similar again, report it first. Do you understand?"

He had heard that Zhao Changshan was lustful. If he visited Red Sleeve Pavilion a few fewer times, he would have long since saved enough silver to marry a wife.

Zhao Changshan smiled sheepishly. "This subordinate will remember Magistrate Zheng's instruction. There will absolutely not be a next time."

Zheng Fengyun gave a soft grunt. "You may both return. This official will report this matter to the county magistrate, then see what rewards should be given to you."

"This official will also send people to search Sun Yuanwai's home. This official will never show leniency to anyone colluding with demons!"

As he watched the two leave, the smile on Zheng Fengyun's face vanished completely. His plans had been thrown entirely into disarray.

The Toad Demon had been stronger than the Tiger Demon. These two had managed to kill it without even a scratch; among all the constables, their strength was likely second only to Constable Li's. They could be considered useful talents.

Could these two be used by him?